The benefits of flexible office space

Flexible workspace is an increasingly popular solution for businesses in the UK. Between 2011 and 2013, the serviced office market grew by 13.3 per cent in the UK. Why?

There are a number of benefits to service office solutions which have contributed to the industry’s success. A high profile address can make a great impression on contacts and build the quality of your brand. Inviting a potential client to meet with you at your office at a swanky part of town like Mayfair can boost credibility, and being surrounded by other businesses can unlock beneficial networking opportunities.

But for many small and growing businesses, getting tied into long contracts for high-value office space can be a risky business. What if your business takes a hit and you need to downgrade? Or what if you’re growing too quickly for your office to keep up?

Flexible office contracts allow you to choose a timeframe which suits you best, rather than demanding you sign up to long-term a contract which might not be suitable a few months or years down the line.

Given that they are typically serviced, flexible offices also take away the hassle of running a reception, hiring cleaners and security staff. That way you can get on with running a business without having to worry about the support staff.

If you know you are going to have team members all in one location for a period of time, it can be productive to look at serviced office solutions. There is often no minimum contract with a serviced office and indeed, you can take serviced office space for as little as a day or even just a meeting.

If you have teams travelling around London, or travelling out of public transport hubs like Marylebone it may be a more productive solution to give them the office facilities they need, rather than have them working in coffee shops.

Flexible contracts can also be a good way of getting started in a new city. If you think an expansion might be a good idea but just want to dip a toe in the water initially, you can use a flexible office contract to try things out, with no obligation to stay on for longer than the length of contract you choose.

As workplaces grow more dynamic and work patterns more flexible, employers will grow to see more fluidity in the size of their workforce, and the hours each employee works. It will be important that their office arrangements keep up.

Share with your network

About Author

As the champion of UK enterprise for 20 years, Real Business is the most-read SME website dedicated to high-growth businesses and entrepreneurs. Through daily news, unique insight and invaluable guides we are an essential resource for thriving businesses.

GDPR will apply to employers from 25 May 2018, updating existing regulation for the digital age. It will have a significant impact on the way employers collect, process, retain and share personal data relating to employees.